Optical aiming device

ABSTRACT

An optical aiming device that includes front and rear mounting rings having protrusions configured to engage grooves in a cylindrical body for alignment of the optical aiming device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/029,448, filed on May 24, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to scope for firearms, and more specifically, to an optical aiming device for firearms such as a scope, sight, and laser.

BACKGROUND

When buying a new scope, a person also has to buy some sort of mount to affix the scope to their firearm. Then they must set aside some time to affix the scope to the mount so that it is level—that is, the scope reticle (the cross-hairs) ideally should not be tilted to one side or the other. The vertical line in the reticle should be perpendicular to the ground.

A small amount of tilt can cause a shot to be thrown off target by varying amounts depending on how far away the target is. This is because as the shooter adjusts his scope for a longer range shot by dialing the scope up, he/she also ends up adjusting it to the right or left, depending on which way the reticle is tilted and how much.

Everyone strives for having a perfectly mounted scope. Systems and devices are available using external leveling references, such as bubble levels, and tools that temporarily attach to the firearm that provide a similar visual reference. These are usually gadgets that cost between $20 and $200. Some of the external level references also require the firearm to be sitting perfectly level during the installation process.

The problem with leveling is that for most folks, it is terribly imprecise and the devices do not do much to minimize the time/hassle of installation. The person also needs to be very careful while installing the scope mount, to not accidentally bump anything, and also keep checking the level of the scope while tightening all the screws. Some folks just end up taking their scope and mount to a gunsmith who has all of these tools and experience. And in the end, the installer is basically eye-balling it.

It would be desirable to provide system to install a scope quickly and precisely without any additional leveling tools.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an optical aiming device that includes cylindrical body having grooves coupled with front and rear mounting rings having detachable protrusion inserts that couple with the grooves for alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of an optical aiming device.

FIG. 2 shows the cylindrical body of the optical aiming device having an alignment groove.

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing one embodiment of the optical aiming device body being coupled with the front and rear mounting rings having a protrusion.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing another embodiment of the optical aiming device body having two grooves coupled with the front and rear mounting rings having two protrusions.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing one embodiment of the optical aiming device body being coupled with the front and rear mounting rings having a detachable protrusion insert.

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing another embodiment of the optical aiming device body having two grooves being coupled with the front and rear mounting rings having two detachable protrusion inserts.

FIG. 7 shows embodiments of alternate detachable protrusion inserts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is directed to an optical aiming device body having grooves coupled with front and rear mounting rings having detachable protrusion inserts.

During manufacturing, one or more small grooves are cut in lines that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the scope, in the area where the front and rear mounting rings are attached. The groove(s) are cut at locations on the scope tube that are calibrated with the installation of the reticle.

The scope mounts (rings) will also have a corresponding number of protrusions added that will mate-up with the grooves in the scope.

There may be more than one “set” of grooves, in order to account for users who may mount their scopes on platforms that are canted to one side or the other. For instance, a rifle may have an additional mounting area off to the side that is canted/tilted 45 degrees. There may be multiple sets of grooves cut into the scope tube to accommodate this situation.

The main functional difference is that the modification allows for a more “plug and play” experience for the user. They do not need special tools/gadgets that only apply to scope mounting, and the user can quickly/easily mount the scope with high precision.

Scopes have been around since 1835, and I have found nothing in my research that has ever pointed to something like this. There are mounting systems for cameras that approach being similar; however, those systems are not at all concerned with leveling. They are concerned with providing a secure attachment point.

FIG. 1 shows a side view showing one embodiment of an optical aiming device 100. In the embodiment shown, the optical aiming device is a scope 100 having a cylindrical body or tube 108 configured to couple with front and rear mounting rings 104, 106 mounted on a firearm 102. The front and rear mounting rings 104, 106 include multiple pieces that are configured to couple with the cylindrical body or tube 108 to hold it in place. In the embodiment shown, the front and rear mounting rings 104, 106 are made from two pieces that are configured to clamp around the cylindrical body or tube 108 at front and rear locations to hold it in place. The two pieces include a top section 104 a, 106 a and a bottom section 104 b, 106 b that are joined with screws 116 that pass through screw holes 118 in the top sections 104 a, 106 a, and engage either threaded openings 120 in the bottom sections 104 b, 106 b or pass through screw holes 121 and couple with nuts 122.

The optical aiming device 100 includes one or more features for aiming, such as an ocular lens 128 and an eyepiece 130 that the shooter looks through coupled to one end of the cylindrical body 108 b, and an objective 132 coupled to an opposite end with internal crosshair or aiming point (reticle) within the scope 100. The optical aiming device 100 also includes various adjustment rings and knobs for sighting and focus. In the embodiment shown, the optical aiming device is a scope 100. In other embodiments, the optical aiming device 100 may be other devices, such as a sight or laser.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the cylindrical body 108 that includes a front end 108 a and a rear end 108 b with a longitudinal axis 110. The cylindrical body 108 includes one or more grooves 112 are cut in lines that are parallel to the longitudinal axis 110. The groove(s) 112 are cut in a surface 114 of the cylindrical body 108 at locations that are calibrated with a crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the scope 100.

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing one embodiment of the cylindrical body 108 being coupled with the front and rear mounting rings 104, 106. The top sections 104 a, 106 a and bottom sections 104 b, 106 b include a semicircular shape that is sized to clamp the cylindrical body 102 when joined.

The front and rear bottom sections 104 b, 106 b include a protrusion 124 on a mating surface 126 that is configured to engage the groove 112 on the surface 114 of the cylindrical body 108 when it is coupled with the front and/or rear mounting rings 104, 106.

The groove 112 and protrusion 124 are shown as a triangle or pyramid shape. In other embodiments, the groove 112 and protrusion 124 may another mating shapes, such as rectangular.

The cylindrical body 108 is positioned between the top section 104 a, 106 a and the bottom section 104 b, 106 b. The top 104 a, 106 a and bottom 104 b, 106 b sections include outward extending upper and lower mating tabs or flanges 134, 135 with screw holes 118, 120 or 121. Once the top sections 104 a, 106 a and bottom sections 104 b, 106 b are joined, the screws 116 are inserted through a screw holes 118 in the upper mating tabs 135 of the top sections 104 a, 106 a, and and engage either threaded openings 120 in the bottom sections 104 b, 106 b in the lower mating tabs 136, or pass through screw holes 121 and couple with nuts 122.

The coupling of the groove 112 and protrusion 124 provides accurate positioning of the scope 100 on the firearm 102. As pointed out above, the groove 112 on the cylindrical body 108 is calibrated with the crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the scope 100. So when the cylindrical body 108 is inserted into the front and rear mounting rings 104 a, 104 b, the coupling of the groove 112 and protrusion 124 provides accurate positioning of the crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the scope 100 relative to the firearm 102, and the scope 100 does not need to be re-leveled each time it is changed to a different firearm 102.

In some embodiments, the cylindrical body 108 includes a front set of grooves 112 a configured to couple with protrusions of the front mounting ring 104 and a rear set of grooves 112 b configured to couple with protrusions of the rear mounting ring 106. The front set of grooves 112 a and the rear set of grooves 112 b may be different so that the cylindrical body 108 is positioned in the correct orientation on the firearm.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing another embodiment of the front and rear mounting rings 104, 106 having the top section 104 a, 106 a and a bottom section 104 c, 106 c, and a body 108 a that includes more than one groove 112 a. The bottom section 104 c, 106 c includes more than one mating protrusion 124 a configured to couple with the more than one groove 112 a. In this case there are two grooves 112 a, in order to account for users who may mount their scopes 100 on platforms that are canted to one side or the other. For instance, a rifle may have an additional mounting area off to the side that is canted/tilted 45 degrees. There may be multiple sets of grooves 112 a cut into the scope tube 108 a to accommodate this situation.

FIG. 5 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing an embodiment of an optical aiming device 200 having a cylindrical body or tube 208 having a groove 212 and front and rear mounting rings 204, 206 having a detachable protrusion insert 224. The front and rear mounting rings 204, 206 shown are made from two pieces that are configured to clamp around the cylindrical body or tube 208 at front and rear locations to hold it in place. The two pieces include a top section 204 a, 206 a and a bottom section 204 b, 206 b joined with screws 216 that pass through a screw hole 218 in the top sections 204 a, 206 a, and engage either a threaded opening 220 in the bottom sections 204 b, 206 b or a nut 222.

The top 204 a, 206 a and bottom 204 b, 206 b sections include a semicircular shape that is sized to clamp the cylindrical body 208 when joined.

The front and rear mounting rings 204, 206 include a detachable protrusion insert 224 that is sized to fit within a slot 225 on a mating surface 226 that is configured to engage the groove 212 on the bottom surface of the cylindrical body 208. The detachable protrusion insert 224 shown as a triangle or pyramid shape.

The coupling of the groove 212 and detachable protrusion insert 224 provides accurate positioning of the scope 200. As pointed out above, the groove 212 on the cylindrical body 208 is calibrated with the crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the scope 200. So when the cylindrical body 208 is inserted into the front and rear mounting rings 204, 204, the coupling of the groove 212 and detachable protrusion insert 224 provides accurate positioning of the crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the scope 200 relative to the firearm 202 and the scope 200 does not need to be re-leveled each time it is changed to a different firearm 202.

FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view at A-A showing another embodiment of the body 208 a and the front and rear mounting rings 204, 206 that includes more than one groove 212 a and more than one corresponding detachable protrusion insert 224 a that is sized to fit within slots 225 a in the bottom mounting ring 204 c. In this case there are two grooves 212 a and two detachable protrusion inserts 224 a in order to account for users who may mount their scopes 200 on platforms that are canted to one side or the other. For instance, a rifle may have an additional mounting area off to the side that is canted/tilted 45 degrees. There may be multiple sets of grooves 212 a cut into the scope tube 108 a to accommodate this situation.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a universal bottom mounting ring 304, 306 having multiple slots 335 to received one or more detachable protrusion inserts 324. In the embodiment shown, there are three slots 335 a, 335 b, 335 c. The detachable protrusion inserts 324 can be used on any one of the slots, depending on the grooves 112 in the cylindrical body 208. For example, if a cylindrical body 108 has one groove 112, then a detachable protrusion insert 324 is placed in the center slot 335 b. If the cylindrical body 108 a has two grooves 112 a, then detachable protrusion inserts 324 are placed in the side slots 335 a, 335 c.

In some embodiments, the detachable inserts 324 may have different protrusion shapes configured to couple with different groove shapes on the cylindrical body 108. In the embodiments shown, there are three different detachable inserts. Detachable insert 334 a is a detachable smooth insert without a protrusion that may be positioned within slots 325 a, 325 b, 325 c. This allows the front and rear mounting rings 304 b, 306 b to be used for scopes that do not have grooves. Detachable insert 334 b is a detachable protrusion insert having a triangle or pyramid shape. Detachable insert 334 c is a detachable protrusion insert having a square or rectangular shaped protrusion.

While the embodiments show the groove(s) located in the cylindrical body and the protrusion(s) on the front and rear mounting rings, in other embodiments these may be opposite, with the groove(s) in the front and rear mounting rings and the protrusion(s) on the cylindrical body.

The embodiments shown describe the groove as being parallel to the longitudinal axis. In other embodiments, the groove may be positioned in any orientation on the cylindrical body or tube. The only requirement is that the groove couple with the protrusion provides accurate positioning of the crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the scope 100 relative to the firearm 102

Example embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention have been described herein. As noted elsewhere, these example embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting. Other embodiments are possible and are covered by the invention. Such embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An optical aiming device comprising: front and rear mounting rings; one or more protrusions positioned on an inner surface of the front and rear mounting rings; and a cylindrical body having longitudinal axis and one or more grooves parallel to the longitudinal axis in a surface of the cylindrical body being configured to couple with the one or more protrusions to provide accurate positioning of a crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the optical aiming device.
 2. The optical aiming device of claim 1, wherein the front and rear mounting rings include semicircular shaped top and bottom sections sized to clamp the cylindrical body when joined.
 3. The optical aiming device of claim 2, wherein the top and bottom sections include outward extending upper and lower mating tabs or flanges include screw holes, wherein screws are inserted through the screw holes in the upper mating tabs and engage either threaded screw holes in the lower mating tabs or pass through screw holes in the lower mating tab and couple with nuts to join the upper and lower mating tabs or flanges.
 4. The optical aiming device of claim 2, wherein the one or more protrusions positioned on an inner surface of the bottom section.
 5. The optical aiming device of claim 4, wherein the one or more protrusions are detachable protrusions, and the bottom sections include one or more slots configured to receive the one or more detachable protrusions.
 6. The optical aiming device of claim 1, wherein the one or more protrusions are a triangular shape and the grooves are triangular grooves.
 7. The optical aiming device of claim 1, wherein the one or more protrusions are a rectangular shape and the grooves are rectangular grooves.
 8. The optical aiming device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body includes a front set of grooves configured to couple with protrusions of the front mounting ring and a rear set of grooves configured to couple with protrusions of the rear mounting ring.
 9. The optical aiming device of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical body the front set of grooves are different than the rear set of grooves so that when the cylindrical body is coupled with the front and rear mounting rings it is positioned in the correct orientation on the firearm.
 10. An optical aiming device comprising: front and rear mounting rings having semicircular shaped top and bottom sections; one or more protrusions positioned on an inner surface of the front and/or rear mounting rings; and a cylindrical body having longitudinal axis and one or more grooves in a surface of the cylindrical body parallel to the longitudinal axis being configured to couple with the top and bottom sections to provide accurate positioning of a crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the optical aiming device.
 11. The optical aiming device of claim 10, wherein the top and bottom sections include outward extending upper and lower mating tabs or flanges include screw holes, wherein screws are inserted through the screw holes in the upper mating tabs and engage either threaded screw holes in the lower mating tabs or pass through screw holes in the lower mating tab and couple with nuts to join the upper and lower mating tabs or flanges.
 12. The optical aiming device of claim 10, wherein the one or more protrusions are detachable protrusions, and the bottom sections include one or more slots configured to receive the one or more detachable protrusions.
 13. The optical aiming device of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical body includes a front set of grooves configured to couple with protrusions of the front mounting ring and a rear set of grooves configured to couple with protrusions of the rear mounting ring.
 14. The optical aiming device of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical body the front set of grooves are different than the rear set of grooves so that when the cylindrical body is coupled with the front and rear mounting rings it is positioned in the correct orientation on the firearm.
 15. An optical aiming device comprising: front and rear mounting rings having semicircular shaped top and bottom sections outward extending upper and lower mating tabs or flanges having screw holes; one or more protrusions positioned on an inner surface of the front and rear mounting rings; and a cylindrical body having longitudinal axis and one or more grooves in a surface of the cylindrical body parallel to the longitudinal axis being configured to couple with the top and bottom sections to provide accurate positioning of a crosshair or aiming point (reticle) in the optical aiming device.
 16. The optical aiming device of claim 15, wherein the upper and lower mating tabs or flanges include screw holes and screws are inserted through the screw holes in the upper mating tabs and engage either threaded screw holes in the lower mating tabs or pass through screw holes in the lower mating tab and couple with nuts to join the upper and lower mating tabs or flanges.
 17. The optical aiming device of claim 15, wherein the one or more protrusions are detachable protrusions, and the bottom sections include one or more slots configured to receive the one or more detachable protrusions.
 18. The optical aiming device of claim 15, wherein the cylindrical body includes a front set of grooves configured to couple with protrusions of the front mounting ring and a rear set of grooves configured to couple with protrusions of the rear mounting ring.
 19. The optical aiming device of claim 18, wherein the cylindrical body the front set of grooves are different than the rear set of grooves so that when the cylindrical body is coupled with the front and rear mounting rings it is positioned in the correct orientation on the firearm. 